University investigates Iraqi deaths research

US-- Dr Gilbert Burnham, the researcher criticised yesterday by the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) over his controversial study into civilian deaths in Iraq, is being investigated by the university that employs him.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's director of public affairs, Tim Parsons, told Research the university “has undertaken a review of the study to determine if any violation of the school's rules or guidelines for the conduct of research occurred in the conduct of the study”.

Parsons said the review was nearing completion. He said the university “takes any allegation of scientific or professional misconduct very seriously”.

Burnham's 2006 study claimed the civilian death toll in Iraq was three times higher than previous estimates.

AAPOR launched its own investigation into the study after complaints from members – even though Burnham himself is not a member. Yesterday, the association announced that Burnham had violated its ethics code for failing to make certain details about the survey process publicly available.

Mary Losch, the chair of AAPOR's standards committee, said the association was looking to bring to light the fact that Burnham was refusing to reveal information. It was not passing judgement on the validity of the findings, she said.

Asked to comment on the AAPOR's statement, Johns Hopkins spokesman Parsons said: “The school is not a member of the organisation and does not know what procedures or standards were followed in reaching the decision regarding this study and therefore is not in a position to comment.”

• Click here for a Q&A session with Burnham about the methodology used in the survey, which dates back to 2006.

Author: James Verrinder